Cricket Season to Start To-Morrow

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 187, 28 October 1927, Page 11

Cricket Season to Start To-Morrow

prospects and anticipations

THE rise of the curtain for the new cricket season in Auckland finds the city with its three leading players, Dacre, Allcott and Mills, facing New South Wales in Sydney, but compensated in another direction by the timely arrival of the A.C.A.’s player-coaches., Bowley and Langridge.

THE two professionals will make their firrst appearance at Eden Park to-morrow. Too much will not be expected of them, however, after their long sea journey and lack of practice. Theu* welcome, however, will be none the less cordial. Bowley himself will renew old and pleasant acquaintances. The teams selected for to-morrow’s games find* most of last season’s players in the field again. There are . few change-overs from one club to another, but not many. The senior and second grade competitions only will commence. tomorrow. In the lower grades, many of the grounds are not quite ready, and it was not possible to make a start this week. The first series of matches will be played in accordance with the old time schedule, the Daylight Saving Bill not coming into operation until November 6 Y.M. STRONGER V.M.C.A. looks to have a very useful aide on paper. Even if Bowley should Jind himself a little out of form after the long sea voyage, and lack of practice, his presence in the side will be a considerable moral factor. Two former North Shore players figure in Y.M C.A.’s list. They are Len Elliott, the hard-hitting Devonport batsman, and Peoppell, a good allrounder, who was liable to tie the best pf batsmen up last year. FEW CHANGES IN VARSITY There are few new names in the Varsity XI. With the exception of Dow and Schnauer, all played for the eleven last year. Dow is a promoted junior and Schnauer is last year’s Grammar School captain, who was a very solid bat at school. The position of wicketkeeper is still open. Smeeton is good behind the gticks, but he is also a good bowler and X rr ri- rl- -j- rlt rr * & rl- X fS SOME ROLLER! The North Shore cricket ground Ihows signs of suffering from the abgence overseas of Ces Dacre, its former custodian, the pitches being much below the usual standard, while the practice wickets and outfield are more than lough. However, the borough authorities brought a weighty argument to bear on the problem yesterday when the municipal steam roller was requisitioned to iron out some of the bumps! The knobs have been flattened out all fight, but the creases left will make pound fielding on the B area a bit of t gamble, and the fieldsman will not be too sure whether he will stop a hot tarpet shot with his hands or his head.

the meantime, however, the newlypromoted juniors have a golden opportunity to make a name for themselves. SHORE GETS SAUNDERS North Shore, captained by Bert Frater, looks strong on paper, even with Ces Dacre year, Webb especiWill strengthen both \ m Hie batting and bowling. Dick Coates is turning ' out for the first R. Frater match, although his recent illness m;*y prevent him from striking his best form right away. Alf. Scott will be behind the sticks, but lie is still feeling the effects of a strenuous League season which left him stiff and sore after Saturday’s match. LAST YEAR’S CHAMPIONS Eden will field practically the same eleven as last year, although, of course, Mills is still to come. Nine out of the,eleven chosen to play to-morrow played in last year’s team. The newcomers are Bennett and Ellis, who played in the senior B grade last ye.ir. Both are very promising batsmen. CRICKET TEAMS TO-MORROW’S MATCHES following teams have been selected for to-morrow’s cricket matches: Senior Grade A Section Ponsonby.— N. C. Snedden, S. G. Smith, J. Commons, J. Langridge, T. McLeod, F. Taylor, S. Newdick, W. Wheeler, H Roy H. Warneford, N. C. Smallwood. University. —Garrard, Smeeton, Mathe®.on» r ß i lfe ’ Gee » Barnes, Bannister, Kelly, J. McDougall, Dow, Schnauer. Parnell.— L S. Righton. I. Macallan, A. Anthony, S. C. Hay, H. Duncan, F. Goodsir, M. W. Turbott, A. G. Aitken, A. YV. McCoy, A. E. Irving, A. J. Luke. Eden. —W. H. Bennett, V. C. Butler, I. W. Cooper, N. Ellis, H. D. Gillespie, F. McCarthy, A. J. Postles, W. B. Smith, A. F. Weir, G. L. Weir, R. F. Whelan. Players to catch 1 p.m. boat if possible. Y.M.C.A. —E. H. Bowley, H. Hunt, R. Riddolls, J. H. Miller. C. Otter, V. Pearce, F. Pa ton, W. L. Elliott, A. G. Wells, Peoppel, Gorrie. United Suburbs. —A. Bushill, W. Bad<ley, C. Davis, W. Hendy, C. Kerr, A. Leikis, N. Martin, C. Mills, J. C. McLaren, D. Stotter, R. Somers, M. Wetherill, A. Williams. North Shore. —R. Frater (captain), J. Gerrard, L. Johnson, L. Monteith, W. Coates, A. Player, L. Saunders, L. Colebourne, J. Bush, H. Webb, A. Scott. Grafton. —A. C. Snedden, E. Horspool, R. G. Sloman, R. Pope, L. Goodwin, H.